RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 2 sourcesWhy WNBA was forced to delete post of Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese promoting betting originally appeared on The Sporting News .
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Wednesday's contest between the Atlanta Dream and Dallas Wings had plenty on the line — including $400, apparently.
The two teams already had enough stakes, with both pursuing a playoff spot as they head into the final third of the season, but a video posted by the WNBA showing Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers making a bet with each other raised eyebrows.
The WNBA ultimately deleted the post after criticism for its promotion of gambling, particularly gambling by the players themselves.
Here's a closer look at the post now deleted by the WNBA.
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Why WNBA deleted post of Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese promoting betting
The WNBA tweeted and deleted a video showing Reese and Bueckers making a $400 bet with each other on Wednesday's game between their two teams.
Reese holds up $400 in cash in the video and reminds Bueckers about the bet. The WNBA made no mistake about what the video was, calling it a bet in the caption of the post before later deleting it altogether.
Now deleted WNBA post 🤦♀️ pic.twitter.com/CipILp5br9
— Kaitlyn 📊🏀 (@zulueditsae) July 29, 2026 The post drew swift criticism. While promoting gambling isn't out of the ordinary for leagues, many of which have official partnerships with sportsbooks, players themselves betting on their own games — or any games — is considered breaking a golden rule.
In a statement released Thursday, the WNBA said "missed the mark" and added that it was addressed internally.
WNBA spokesperson on since-deleted post showing Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers discussing a wager ahead of yesterday’s Dream vs Wings game: pic.twitter.com/FUTgwEJfDN
— Annie Costabile (@AnnieCostabile) July 30, 2026 "We will also use this as an opportunity to reemphasize with the players that conversations about wagering on WNBA games, even when intended as a joke, can have negative consequences," the league said.
Here's what you need to know about the WNBA's betting rules.
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WNBA player betting rules
The WNBA's new Collective Bargaining Agreement comes with language aimed at preventing betting among players:
"Any player found by the Commissioner after a hearing to have been guilty of wagering (directly or indirectly), or of offering or attempting to wager, money or anything of value on the outcome, score, or any other aspect of any WNBA Competition shall, in the sole discretion of the Commissioner, be subject to a fine, suspension, and/or dismissal and disqualification from any further association with the WNBA," the rulebook states .
It's unclear whether Reese or Bueckers will be suspended for the bet. Both played on Wednesday night, with Reese's 22 points and 12 rebounds helping power the Dream to an 82-81 win.
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